Alkylenebis [trialkylphosphonium halides] and processes for the manufacture thereof



United States Patent ALKYLENEBIS[TRIALKYLPHOSPHONIUM HAL- IDES] AND PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFAC- TURE THEREOF Clinton A. Dornfeld, Glenview, 111., assignor to G. D. Searle 85 Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application July 9, 1956 Serial No. 596,439

4 Claims. (Cl. 260- -606.5)

This invention relates to alkylenebis[trialkylphosphonium halides] and processes for the manufacture thereof. In particular, this invention relates to bisltrialkylphosphonium halides] of the formula wherein R is a methyl or ethyl radical, and X is chlorine, bromine, or iodine.

This application is a continuation-in-part of the prior copending application of the same inventor Serial No. 362,688, filed June 18, 1953, now abandoned.

The compounds of this invention are useful because of their valuable pharmacological properties. For ex-' ample, the claimed compounds are potent anti-hypertensive agents, being distinguished from superficially similar homologs of the prior art in that their capacity for lowering blood pressure is maintained over uncommonly long periods of time. Moreover, the subject compounds show appreciable anti-cholinergic activity. They have the property of blocking the transmission of nerve impulses across the autonomic ganglia, thereby producing the chemical equivalent of sympathectomy, the surgical interruption of some portion of the sympathetic nervous pathway.

The compounds to which this invention relates are soluble in Water, as also in aqueous solutions of alcohols and other water-miscible organic solvents. They may be administered in solid form as tablets or capsules; dissolved in aqueous media, they may be given parenterally.

The subject compounds are conveniently prepared in accordance with the following procedure: An appropriate phosphine (namely, trimethylor triethylphosphine) is reacted with a suitable decamethylene bromide or iodide (for example, 1,10-dibromodecane), using chloroform, methyl ethyl ketone, or other inert, polar solvent as the reaction medium. The reactants are ordinarily maintained at temperatures of the order of 50 to 150 centigrade, preferably between 65 and 100 centigrade, for periods of time ranging upward of 24 hours to complete the reaction, which is generally carried out in an inert atmosphere-for example, under nitrogen. A sealed vessel is used to maintain the reagents when the selected operating temperatures require working under pressure.

The phosphonium bromides and iodides of this invention thus derived, are converted to the claimed chlorides by heating with silver chloridefor example in aqueous medium over a 2 hour period.

The following examples describe in detail certain of the compounds illustrative of the present invention, and methods which have been devised for their manufacture. However, the invention is not to be construed as limited thereby, either in spirit or in scope, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art of organic synthesis that many modifications, both of materials and of methods,

\ 2,867,665 Ratented Jan. 6, 1959 "ice may be practiced without departing from the purpose and intent of this disclosure. In the examples hereinafter detailed, temperatures are given indegrees centigrade C.) and relative amounts of materials in parts by weight, except as otherwise noted.

Example 1 Decamethylenebis[trimethylphosphonium i0dide].A mixture of 25 parts of trimethylphosphine, 131 parts of 1,5-diiododecane, and 4500 parts of chloroform is allowed to react at C. in a sealed 'vessel under a nitrogen atmosphere for 3 days. The reaction mixture, cooled to room temperature, is then diluted with approximately 2 volumes of dry ether, whereupon a precipitate forms. This precipitate is decamethylenebis[trimethylphosphonium iodide]. It has the formula Decamethylenebis E trimethylphosphonium chloride] A solution of 28 parts of the bisiodo compound of the preceeding Example 2 in 4000 parts of water is .mixed with 14 parts of silver chloride and refluxed for 2 hours. The decamethylenebis[trimethylphosphonium chloride] thus produced has the formula a)3 z)1o s)3 What is claimed is: 1. A compound of the formula R3P+(C1QHZD) P+R3ZX wherein R is selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl radicals, and X is halogen selected from the: group consisting of chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

2. Decamethylenebis [triethylphosphonium bromide].

3. In a process for producing a compound of the.

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl radicals, and X is halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, and iodine, the

at temperatures in the range from 50 to centigrade,

3 o t 4. t

under an inert atmosphere, using an inert, organic solvent References Cited in the file of this patent as the reaction medium, R'and'X in the latter two formulas GN PATENTS above having the meanings hereinbefore assigned.

4. In a process for producing decamethyIenebi Etri- 941193 Germany 1956 ethylphosphonium bromidel, the step which comprises 5 OTHER REFERENCES contacting triethylphosphine With 1,10-dibromodecane at K l fi; 'OrganophoSphOfllS Compounds, John temperatures between 65; and 100 centigrade, under Wiley & Sons, Inc" New York 950 73 39 nitrogen atmosphere, using chloroform a reaction Ginzel et a1.: Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch exptl.

solvent. t Pathol. PharmakoL, Bande 217 (1953), page 173. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 